Arts & Culture

A celebration of the Life and Art of Janet Johnson will be on display for a time at LowellArts.

Janet Y. Johnson passed away on February 20, 2017. She was a founding member of LowellArts and of the co-op gallery, Flat River Gallery, along with a lifetime member of the Grand Valley Artists. She was a gifted artist who helped guide and shape artistic projects and artists, leaving a lasting impression.

The community is welcome to an open house on Sunday, May 21 from 2-4pm to celebrate, Mrs. Johnson’s artistic life.

April 26 – May 21 LowellArts! presents the 5th Annual Student Art Show featuring exciting, innovative, creative, spectacular, and well-executed artwork from area middle and high school students. Artwork is submitted by art teachers by invited schools for display. The exhibit is also open to home-schooled students who live within 15 miles of Lowell. Best of Show and Honorable Mention awards are presented in 3 categories, and winners receive gift packages of art supplies, classes, and gift certificates donated by various businesses and institutions. Meet-the-Artist Reception to be held Sunday, May 1, 2-4pm. Gallery Hours: Tues-Fri 10am-6pm and Sat 1-4pm. LowellArts! is located at 149 S. Hudson St. www.lowellartsmi.org. LowellArts!, 897-8545

"[Our forecast] has resulted in a tightness in cookie inventory and an inability to meet cookie orders at the dates originally requested," explains sales director Brenda Smith. "The situation was made worse by winter weather that resulted in a plant shutdown for two days in February and an ingredient delivery delay in late February."

Little Brownie Bakers is working around the clock to fill all orders. All requested boxes should arrive in West Michigan the week of April 13.

The Meijer Simply Give program – held three times a year – generated nearly $6 million in 2014 for food pantries throughout the Midwest, bringing the program’s overall donation total to nearly $14 million since it began in November 2008.

The retailer’s most recent campaign, which ended in January, was the most successful holiday campaign in the program’s history, resulting in a total of more than $1.8 million for hungry families.

--------NEWS RELEASE-------Kent District Library, Schuler Books & Music and Herrick District Library announce the winners of the third annual Write Michigan Short Story Contest. More than 700 writers from across the state entered the contest: 215 adults, 426 teens and 104 in the youth category.

“We’ve had another successful year,” said KDL Assistant Director Michelle Boisvenue-Fox. “We are always excited to see and read so much great talent in Michigan. We are supported by 155 volunteer reviewers—librarians, booksellers and Friends of the Library—with over half of them returning from last year’s contest. Many people find this a fun way to support aspiring writers.”